Manuscript-holder.



Patented vMay 28, I90I.

.1. J. McLEAN. MANuscmPT HoLbEn.

(Appl t n ldA g 30 1900) f-zi gama/Z M (No Model.)

UNiTED STATES PATENT Fries.

- JOHN J. MCLEAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

MANUSCRIPT-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,287, dated May 28,1901. Application filed August 30, 1900. Serial No. 28,554. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. MCLEAN, a citi-v zen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Manuscript- Holders, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. y

Myinvention has relation to improvements in manuscript-holders; and itconsists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts more fullyset forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of the holder, showing aportion of the manuscriptprojecting therefrom and Showing a line of thereading matter thereon against the graduated guide-scale of the holder.2 is an end view of the holder, and Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on line3 3 of Fig. 2.

One object of my invention is to construct a manuscript-holder whichwhile it retains the copy in position during the transcribing or copyingof any particular line thereof permits the shifting of the copy to thenext line with a minimum loss of time to the copyist.

Afurther object is to construct a holder which will be simple, onepermitting the ready insertion of the manuscript thereinto or withdrawalfrom the same, one which will aid the copyist in resuming his .work atthe point at which it was left on", and one presenting further and otheradvantages better apparent from a detailed description of the device,which is as follows:

Referring to the drawings, l represents a (preferably sheet-metal)hollow cylinder or tube open at both ends and also along itsperiphery,the peripheral passage 2 being formed by the space includedbetween the adjacent overlapping edges of the original sheet from whichthe cylinder'was formed. This passage 2 is somewhat wider at the innerthan at its delivery end, this arrangement resulting from bending theinner lap out of parallelism with the outer lap and toward the center ofthe cylinder, the inner inwardly-deected lap under the circumstancesbetter guiding the manuscript as the latter is either being insertedinto the holder or being gradually withdrawn therefrom during theprocess of copying. The walls of the cylinder are resilient or yielding,the outer surface of the inner lap being in the present case normallyengaged by the outer longitudinal edge of the spring-wire yoke 3, thearms of the yoke being form'ed into spring coils orloops 4, whose endsare secured, by means of staples 5, (or otherwise,) to a preferablyWooden base 6, by which the cylinder is supported. The loops 4 aredisposed near the base of the cylinder adjacent to the outer lap, thearms of the yoke passing around the outer lap and sufficiently beyond itto permit the straight edge of the yoke to engage the inner lap, (at asuitable point beyond the edge of the outer lap,) as already indicated.To impart additional resiliency to the straight edge of the wire yokeand assist the operator in disengaging the same from the cylinder whileinserting a manuscript, the medial portion of said edge is formed intoan outwardly-proj ecting eye 7, by which the yoke can be seized.

Formed (preferably) integrally with the cylinder l, at the opposite endsthereof, are lugs 8, by which the cylinder is secured to thesupporting-base. Disposed along the reading edge of the outer lap is aguide-scale 9, corresponding to the scale of any of the prevailing formsof type-writing machines, such scale assisting the copyist in keepingthe proper place and also as a guide in copying and in correcting anyerrors.

In order to give to the copyist a view of the manuscript immediatelybelow the scale, the outer lap of thel cylinder is provided with an openspace l0, placed, preferably, a distance corresponding to a full-linespacing below the scale edge 9, this open space 10 enabling the copyistto discern at a glance what follows the particular line beingtranscribed at any time and to judge as to the propriety of continuingthe copying on the sheet on which the transcribing is being made ortaking a fresh sheet for the purpose. The scale 9 is formed by a stripof metal folded over the edge of the outer lap of the cylinder, as bestseen in Fig. 2.

To insert the manuscript M into the cylinder, the same is rolled up andinserted, preferably, through the open end of the cylinder, the upperend of the manuscriptbeing IOO inserted into the peripheral passage 2and under the base of the yoke 3 and adjusted to vany particular line tobe transcribed or copied. By seizing the eye or loop 7 and slightlyraising the yoke the pressure of the latter against the manuscript isremoved, allowing the same to be advanced or pulled out to the nextline, and so on till the entire page is withdrawn.

Itis apparent, ofcourse, that minor changes may be made in theconstruction without departing from the spirit of my invention. Forexample, one end of the tube or cylinder might be closed, thespring-yoke may have a dierent point of attachment, or the form of thespring may be different. Neither do I wish to limit myself to thematerial of which the holder is constructed.

Having described my invention, what I claim isl. A manuscript-holder,comprising a hollow open tube formed from a single sheet of metal thefree edges of which overlap one another and are separated suficiently toform a longitudinal peripheral discharge-passage, a graduatedguide-scale' disposed along the edge of the cuter lap, an open spaceformed in the outer lap below the guide-scale, a resilient yoke havingtwo arms disposed about the outer lap and having a basal edge betweensaid arms bearing against the inner lap at a suitable distance beyondthe guidescale, and a suitable base or support for the tube,substantially as set forth.

2. A manuscript-holder comprising a hollow open tube formed from asingle sheet of metal the free edges of which overlap one another andare separated sufciently to form a longitudinal peripheraldischarge-passage, a graduated guide-scale disposed along the edge ofthe outer lap, a resilient yoke having two arms disposed about the outerlap and having a basal edge between said arms bearing against the innerlap at a suitable distance beyond the guide-scale, and a suitable baseor support for the tube, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I alx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. MCLEAN.

Witnesses:

EMIL STAREK, ALBERT A. ABRAMS.

